Only Seven? My Harem Isn't That Big

Handsome childhood friend | Aloof top scorer | Taciturn general | Gentle widower | Insecure opera performer | Dark hostage prince | Ascetic Buddhist | Bright and cheerful eunuch | ...Maybe there'll be more

Warning: [Female-dominated world | BG | Multiple male love interests, with the heroine collecting male partners | Legal harem, but no one-bed pileup | She makes dumplings just to have something to dip in vinegar | Not an extreme female-dominated world; a small number of men can serve as officials]

Blurb

In the spring of the third year of Zhangxing, newly appointed top scholar Meng Shuying was invited to a palace banquet before receiving an official post.

But he was a man. And a rather handsome one, too.

The palace sent a eunuch to "instruct" him in court etiquette.

"His Majesty is in the prime of life and as beautiful as a celestial being. What a dashing figure she is. If you enter the palace, Young Master, you must be careful with your words and actions."

The implication was clear: they were afraid he would try to seduce the emperor.

That fleeting glimpse during the palace exam really had been hard to forget. But with his talent, he had never intended to use his looks to advance himself.

The whole thing was deeply humiliating.

Was it the palace staff's own idea, or...

Could the emperor really be so promiscuous in private that they had to go out of their way to warn any handsome man who came along?

...And here he had thought the emperor was a rare, wise ruler.

He went to the palace banquet feeling almost disappointed.

-

The emperor did summon him in private.

But she spoke to him gently.

"You have so much talent. Don't let it go to waste."

Then he understood. No matter how many people filled her harem, he really was the one who was special to her.

Until the following year, when General of the Left Xiao Ying returned from the front.

Wanting to befriend him, Meng Shuying knocked on the general's residence on a snowy night.

Outside the study, through a closed door, he heard a familiar, gentle voice.

"...Don't worry. You don't have to concern yourself with those trivial matters at court. I'll take care of them. If you still want to go to the border, then go..."

The same restraint and propriety.

But the emperor would never come to his residence late at night just to say a few words. Meng Shuying woke from his beautiful dream, his whole body turning cold.

Only then did he understand: he was special, and so was the one who came after him.

-

Later, he carefully rested his cheek against the emperor's pale neck and jokingly brought up that palace banquet, telling her how the palace staff had lectured him.

The emperor actually sounded a little aggrieved.

"There are only seven so far. That's not a big harem, is it?" she said.

"...It is a small one," he replied hoarsely.

...Small by one place: his.

[This is BG, not GB!! The woman is the one who can bear children, not the man!! There are many people in the harem, and the official consort has not been decided!! This is my first time writing a female-dominated world. I just wanted to give the heroine a reasonable and legal harem. I'm writing this out of love, so please cut me some slack if anything's off QAQ]

[I really want to write this, but I'll only start after I finish what I'm working on. I might also update as I write during the drafting period.]

Theme: Fair competition.